Shrub rose plant named ‘WEKfabpur’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Shrub rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of velvety black purple coloration with a white eye.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKfabpur’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Shrub Rose. Ithas an undisseminated seedling of my creation as its seed parent withthe following genetic origin [(Sweet Chariot×Blue Nile)×Stephen's BigPurple] and an undisseminated seedling of my creation as pollen parentwith the following genetic origin [(International Herald Tribune×Rosasoulieanna derivative)×(Sweet Chariot×Blue Nile)].

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combination of characteristics: its thornless newshoots, branches and rachis, its flowers of velvety black purplecoloration and its strong clove to spicy fragrance. The plant has abushy compact growing habit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Upland, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKfabpur’ may beasexually propagated by budding and grafting. The budding and graftingsuccessfully plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv. Dr. Huey.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, anundisseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas ‘WEKfabpur’ bears medium sized flowers (about5.3 to about 7.4 cm. in diameter) of velvety black purple coloration andwith semi-double petalage (about 18 to 24 petals), the undisseminatedseedling bears significantly larger flowers (about 7.3 to 8.9 cm indiameter) of purple-pink coloration with more double petalage (about 29to 35 petals). The seed parent bears foliage with a very glossy finish,whereas ‘WEKfabpur’ bears foliage with a semi-glossy finish.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, anundisseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination ofcharacteristics: whereas the undisseminated seedling bears moderatelysmall flowers (about 3.3 to 4.2 cm. in diameter) and with semi-doublepetalage (about 7 to 9 petals), ‘WEKfabpur’ bears significantly largerflowers (about 5.3 to about 7.4 cm. in diameter) with more doublepetalage (about 18 to 24 petals). The pollen parent is a floribunda rosewith a medium-tall spreading mature habit, whereas ‘WEKfabpur’ isclassified as a shrub rose with a significantly shorter and more compactmature growing habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Upland, Calif. in the month of October.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers in clusters of four to fiveper stem. Flowers are borne in somewhat regular rounded clusters onstrong short to medium stems (about 26 to about 72 cm.). Outdoors, theplant blooms abundantly and nearly continuously during the growingseason. The flowers have a strong clove to spicy fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 2.4 to about 5.2 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.15 to about 0.25 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It isalmost entirely smooth, with some stipitate glands and hairs. Pedunclecolor is between 144A and 135C.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 0.8 to about 1.2 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.0 to about 1.5 cm. in length, andvery pointed in shape. The surface of the bud bears few foliaceousappendages and many hairs, usually with slender entire foliaceous partsextending beyond the tip of the bud about ½ or more of its length. Budcolor is between 144A and 135C.

The sepals are about 2.2 to about 3.0 cm. in length and about 0.6 toabout 1.0 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 144A and 135C. The inner surface color of the sepalis between 138B and 137C and covered with fine wooly tomentum; sepalmargins are lined with some stipitate glands and hairs.

The receptacle is of somewhat short length (about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm.)and of average caliper (about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm. in diameter). Thereceptacle is globular to almost rounded in form. It surface is verysmooth with thick fleshy walls. The receptacle color is between 144A and135C.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.2 toabout 2.0 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 1.8 to about 2.4cm. in length, and moderately pointed to somewhat ovoid in form. Thecolor of the under surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 60Aand 59B at the center of the petal suffusing to as dark as between 187Aand 187B toward the edge of the petal. At the point where the petalattaches, there is moderately large zone of between 3D and 5D. The colorof the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 60A and 60Bat the center of the petal suffusing to darker than between 79A and 187Atoward the edge of the petal. At the point where the petal attaches,there is a moderately large zone of between 8B and 10A. Sometimes oneither side of this attachment point, extending to the edge of thepetal, there is a somewhat wide, diagonal zone of lighter colorationforming a broad ‘V’. The coloration of this chevron is between 2D and4D.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 5.3 to about 7.4 cm. indiameter. Petalage is semi-double with 18 to 24 petals and about 2 to 8petaloids irregularly arranged. Petaloids are about 0.8 to about 1.2 cm.in length and about 0.3 to about 0.6 cm. in width at the widest point.Petaloids are shaped moderately oblanceolate to somewhat oblong withrounded apices. When partially open, the bloom form is cupped tosomewhat globular, and the petals are loosely cupped with petal edgessomewhat reflexed outward. When fully open, the bloom form is lesscupped to somewhat flat, and the petals are loosely cupped with petaledges somewhat reflexed outward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is somewhat light and of moderately thinthickness, with upper surfaces moderately velvety to somewhat satiny andunder surfaces slightly shiny to matte. The outer petals are nearlyround in shape with apices usually somewhat mucronate. The inner petalsare moderately obovate to somewhat oblanceolate in shape with apicesusually somewhat mucronate to sometimes rounded. The petals are about2.1 to about 3.0 cm. in length and about 1.3 to about 2.7 cm. in widthat the widest point. Petal margins are entire.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 60B and 72B at the center of the petal suffusing to as dark asbetween 79B and 187B toward the edge of the petal and rarely showingirregular striped and flecked of near 155D in coloration. At the pointwhere the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of near 4D.The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 60A and 72A near the center of the petal that gradually suffusesto darker than between 79A and 187A toward the edge of the petal. At thepoint where the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone ofbetween 4C and 2D. Sometimes on either side of this attachment point,extending to the edge of the petal, there is a moderately wide, nearlyhorizontal zone of lighter coloration forming a broad ‘V’. Thecoloration of this chevron is near 4D. The under and upper surface colorof the petaloids are similar in coloration to the upper and undersurfaces of the intermediate petals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 60A and 72Anear the center of the petal that gradually suffuses to darker thanbetween 79A and 187A toward the edge of the petal. Sometimes at the verycenter of the flower, there is a ‘eyezone’ pattern consisting of thebasal attachment zone of between 4C and 2D and the chevron marking ofnear 4D in coloration.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 72B and 79D at the center of the petal suffusing to as dark asbetween 77A and 187C toward the edge of the petal and rarely showingirregular striped and flecked of near 155D in coloration. At the pointwhere the petal attaches, there is a moderately large zone of between 4Dand 155C. The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate and innerpetals is between 72A and 187C near the center of the petal thatgradually suffuses to as dark as between 79B and 187B toward the edge ofthe petal. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a moderatelylarge zone of near 4D. Sometimes on either side of this attachmentpoint, extending to the edge of the petal, there is a moderately wide,nearly horizontal zone of lighter coloration forming a broad ‘V’. Thecoloration of this chevron is near 155C. The under and upper surfacecolor of the petaloids are similar in coloration to the upper and undersurfaces of the intermediate petals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 72A and 187Cnear the center of the petal that gradually suffuses to darker thanbetween 79B and 187B toward the edge of the petal. Sometimes at the verycenter of the flower, there is a ‘eyezone’ pattern consisting of thebasal attachment zone of near 4D and the chevron marking of near 155C incoloration.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In October in Upland, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 95) and are arranged regularlyabout the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. The filaments are ofsomewhat short length (about 0.2 to about 0.7 cm.), most with anthers.Filaments are near 13B in color usually moderately suffused with near53B. The anthers are moderately small for the class and all openapproximately at the same time. Anther color is between 18A and 20A whenimmature and between 163A and 200A at maturity. Pollen is abundant andbetween 20A and 22B in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 35). The styles are moderatelyeven, average in length (about 0.5 to about 0.8 cm.), average incaliper, and loosely bunched. Stigma color is between 20C and 19B. Stylecolor is between 2D and 4D often heavily suffused with between 187C and183B. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Upland, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to seven leaflets andare borne abundantly. The seven-leaflet leaves are about 11.5 to about15.2 cm. in length and about 8.2 to about 9.6 cm. in width at the widestpoint, somewhat thin to moderately leathery in texture, and semi-glossyin finish. The terminal leaflets are about 5.3 to about 6.2 cm. inlength and about 2.6 to about 3.5 cm. in width at the widest point,shaped moderately ovate to somewhat oval with acute apices and roundedbases. Their margins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 147A and 131B. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 137B and 135C. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 147A and 141C,sometimes moderately suffused with between 187A and 183A. The undersurface color of the young leaf is between 146B and 135C, sometimeslightly suffused with between 187A and 183A.

The rachis is moderately light in caliper and very smooth. The upperside is shallowly grooved with some hairs and few stipitate glands onthe edges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is very smoothwith few hairs. The rachis color is between 144A and 135C sometimesmoderately suffused, especially on the young leaves with between 187Cand 183C.

The stipules are about 1.1 to about 1.5 cm. in length and of moderatelynarrow width (about 0.4 to about 0.6 cm.) with somewhat long straightpoints that usually turn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees andsometimes recurve toward the stem. The stipules color is between 144Aand 135C sometimes moderately suffused, especially on the young leaveswith between 187C and 183C.

The petiole is moderately light in caliper and very smooth. It is about0.6 to about 1.4 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about 0.2 cm in diameterat the widest point. The upper side is shallowly grooved with some hairsand few stipitate glands on the edges of the grooves. The under side ofthe petiole is very smooth with few hairs. The petiole color is between144A and 135C sometimes moderately suffused, especially on the youngleaves with between 187C and 183C.

The plant displays an above average degree of resistance to powderymildew and rust as compared to other commercial varieties grown undercomparable conditions in Upland, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has a bushy compact low to medium height growing habit (about75 to about 92 cm. in height and about 46 to about 60 cm. spread at thewidest point), with full branching. It displays moderately vigorousgrowth and the canes are of somewhat light to medium caliper for theclass.

The color of the major stems is between 146A and 146B. They bear none tovery few medium size prickles that are about 0.4 to about 0.6 cm. inlength. The medium size prickles are almost straight and angled slightlydownward with a somewhat short length narrow oval base; prickle color isbetween 164A and 165B. The major stem bears no small prickles.

The color of the branches is between 144A and 135C. They bear no largeor small prickles.

The color of the new shoots is between 144A and 135C sometimes lightlysuffused with between 187A and 183A. They bear no large or smallprickles.

1. A new and distinct Shrub rose plant of the variety substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.